A seminar on double-stranded DNA viruses at OIST

OIST campus buildings rise above the trees, with the sea on the horizon under a partly cloudy sky.

Personal note

On 4 November 2026, I visited OIST to give a seminar on eukaryotic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses at the Evolution, Cell Biology, and Symbiosis Unit, hosted by Prof. Filip Husnik.

Beyond presenting our bioinformatic surveys on viral diversity and endogenous viral elements, I had a great time discussing the sheer weirdness of protists and invertebrates with the group. Exploring how viruses and symbionts interact with these diverse hosts is genuinely fascinating—every lineage seems to play by its own evolutionary rules.

Many thanks to Filip and his team for the lively discussions, great questions, and warm hospitality in Okinawa!

Record sheet

Talk: The hidden world of dsDNA viruses in eukaryotes: diversity, host associations, and cryptic lifestyles
Organization: Evolution, Cell Biology, and Symbiosis Unit, OIST